New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-03
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DEATH OF BISHOP POTTER.
CLOSE OF A LONG AND BUSY CAREER

IL,
DYING AT us HOME FROM pNEUMoNIA-oNLY HIS
DAUGHTER AND HIS PHYSICIANS WITH HIM.
HoratlO Potter. for thirty-two years Bishop Of
the Protestant Episcopal Diocese Of New-YCrk,
died al his home at No. 3S East Twenty y-second-st,
yesterday morning. Although the Bishop had been
ill for several years and had been unable to leave
his house for fortnight, his death was somewhat
unexpected even to his closest friends and relatives.
Four years ago he was attacked with pneumonia
aud was so feeble then for time
that his Ii was despaired of. lie recovered, how.
ever, but his hitherto strong constitution bad been
seriously affected that he was unable to
accomplish the work of the diocese which
he had prosecuted with such vgor,
and he was relieved of the greatest
share of it by the election of the
Rev. DR.. Henry C. Potter to assist him. During
the last three years he has been subject to
periodical attacks of pneumonia, but by careful
nursing of his strength he recovered from each sue.
ceedlng one. and in the last few months appeared
TO be IN better health and spirits than usual
On Friday night, however. the malady which
had been gradually slppinQ his system reappeared,
and the great change in the weather on the fol-
lowing day seemed to aggravate 1t. Late
on Saturday night he became uncon-
scious and remained SO until 6:2O o'clock yesterday
morning. when his heart beat for the last time.
Tic was faithfully attended through
olghout his illness by his daughter
Miss Anna, who lived with her father and minis
tered to him in his declining years. and Dr. Polk.
his physician, and they were at his bedside when
he died
1t was late last night before the news of the
Bishops death became known about town,
and Bishop Coke, of the Western New
York Drcese. who was a lifelong friend
of tbn land Iata nnHxy in fha oifu ii
not learn the fact until 10 .. m He
was deeply affected by the and
spoke in the most feeling terms of his associates
qualities
lie a noble man, beloved by every
one" said Bishop Coke, and people of all
crecds will unite in expressions of tender regret
upon learning that lie has gone"
Arrangements for the funeral have nou
yet been completed, nor has the day
for 1t been fixed. The will
be held III Trinity Church, and the burial will be
al Poughkeepsle.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND WORK.
IIoratio Potter born at Beekman now la
GRANGE. Dutchess County, New-York, on Feb
ruary 9. 1902 In his early years his educa-
tion was obtained at academy in Pough-
keepse He was graduated from Union College in 1925,
and in July, 1927, he ordained deacon by Bishop
Hobart In the following year he was ordained as priest
About the time he appointed professor OF
mathematics and natural philosophy in Washington now
Trinity College, Hartford. Here he remained for five
years. in the meantime declining an invitation from
Bi.hop Moore become assistant minister Of the Monu
mental Church, at Richmond, Va In December, 1888,
he accepted the recorship 0f ST. Peters Church. Albany.
-Four years later in 1887 he elected To the presi
dcncy OF Trinity College, but declined the honor.
I From his earliest youth his thoughts had been
fixed upon the Church. His five years OF
I t,r.r.s
In respects beneficial but after having entered up"
on his pasorate he unwilling TO he turned aside by
any other call In this long rectorshp he was disn-
gushed for his ability. and. AS preacher, though
not usually regarded eloquent man. was credited
with remarkable purity Of style. At Albany
he was OF course, brought much into
contact with public but rerained altogether nom
entering political conflicts and held in high
gard by the eminent men OF both parties
on the death of Bishop Wainwright in 1854 he
was elected Provisional Bishop Of the Do
ce>e of New-Yorl. and consecrated
November -, 1891. Bishop Browncl officiating
at the services. Bishop b. T. Onderionk the diocesan.
had been economically suspended and while he lived his
,opdjuor could take the full title of Bishop of the
Diocese on April 80 1851, Bishop Ondcronk died. and
Dr. Potter succeeded to the fun jurisdiction By a Curl
coincidence his brother the Rev DR. Aonzo Potter
Bishop Of Pennsylvania also succeeded Bishop Onder
donk q brother of the Bishop OF New-York.
When DR. Potter entered first upon his bishoprc In
1854 his diocese included 2l.75o square miles The
ceryy OF do numbered 290 and there were 2i3
churches. 10. 80 communicates and l4,Ol0 sunday
school scholars the contributions for that year were
S1O73ll In 1865, when the diocese divided the
clergy list had Increased TO iO7 and there were 3s par
ishes S3 100 communicates and 37,i9i sundayschoo
scholars while the contributions had increased 10
SSl223I. Thus, while the congregations had doubled
the collections had nearly quadruped In 1865 two large
areas from the original to tho
new dioceses OF Albany and Long island Thus the ter
ritory which Bishop Potter presided was reducedo
500 square miles. originally covered half the state,
whereas since 1868 1t has only included New-fork,
Duchess Orange, Putnam, Richmond. Rockand, Ulster
and Westcheser Counties. In 1869 the first Of its
separate existence there were PSI clcrynen IN the new
diocese Of Ncwlork, 40 parishes lsome having moro
than one church building, 10000 COMMITMENTS and
% SCI sunday-school scholars while the contributions
for the year amounted 10 SJ6j,329. The close
of the first ten years during which Bishop
Potters diocese had separate existence showed
remarkable increase The reports for 1873 showed tho
number of cergymen to be 303 OF churches l9s of COM
muncants "a s03, and Of Sunday scholars 32,1O9 Ths
contributions amounted Ia S72s3o This shows that ny
ordination and ranserence the number OF active clergy
mon was larger by sixteen than In ls03 lat twenty
eight new had been built during these ten years
that the list OF communicates had nearly dcnbcand that
the contributions the year were nearly S2ooOo0i ID
excess the amount given ten years before his srowp
is the more noteworthy from its occurrence during the
prevalence OF financial depression throughout the cou
try Private gifts money not mcgtioncd IN the reports
would il published, increase the amount Of subscriptions
nearly one half In 1873 these amounted to more than
half million dollars and the contributions OF TINS diocese
have been yearly larger than those OF an! oer the
country.
These statistics will convey idea OF the growing
responsibilities of Bishop Poers position when he hrst
entered upon its duties IN 1854 he was regarded as In
comparatively feeble health. But regardless oi TINS ne
courageollsly took up the heavy bluicn of the leoP
duties and from very beginning accomplished dhiy
an astonishing quantity Of work IN the mrs. lew ons
of his euI,copate he travelled than 10000 niles
visiting his diocese but aterward he gave up counting
the length OF his travels. A., n in
the later years OF his life, 10 visit four OK nso
churches i'm single day. In his annual addresses 10 tne